smith



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

B. S. SMITH.

STEAM ENGINE. v

Patented July 19, 1887.

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3 sheets sheet E. S. SMITH.

STEAM ENGINE.

(No Model.)

No. 366,894. Patented July 19, 1887.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 3. E. S. SMITH.

STEAM ENGINE.

(No Model.)

Patented July 19, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELMER S. SMITH, OF BUFFALO, NE? YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO RAY V. PIERCE, OF SAME PLACE.

STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 366,894, dated July 19, 1887.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ELMER S. SMITH, of the cit-y of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steam-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an engine which is provided with a disk or piston having a withbling motion, partly oscillating and partly ro- IO tative, in a case or chamber which has the form of a spherical segment. The object of my invention is to produce a simple and efficient engine of this kind which can be produced at comparatively small expense and which can be easily operated at a high rate of speed.

My invention consists of the improvements which will .be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of three sheets, Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of my improved engine. Fig. 2 is partly a top plan View and partly ahorizontal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sec- 2 5 tion of the valve. Figs. 4 and 5 are cross-sections in lines .1 .r and g 9 Fig. 1, respectively. Fig. 6 is a cross-section through one of the abutments and connecting parts, on an enlarged scale. Fig. Tis a similar view showing amodifiedarrangement of the abutment. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the engine, showing a reversible valve applied to my improved engine. Fig. 9 is a cross-section in line mm, Fig. 8, on an enlarged scale. Fig.

10 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of my improved engine provided with an automatic cut-off mechanism. Fig. 11 is a cross-section in line x :0, Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a cross-section in line y y, Fig. 10, on an enlarged scale. Fig.

13 is a sectional view showing a modified construction of the steam-passages.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

My improved engine can be actuated by 5 steam, compressed air, water, or any other fluid or liquid under pressure; but for the purpose of simplifying the description I will describe it as a steanrengine.

A represents the case having the form of a segment of a sphere, and A is the head which closes the large end of the case, and is secured thereto by suitable fastenings, a.

13 represents the piston, having the form of a spherical segment and arranged obliquely in the case A, which it fills partially, so as to leave a steam-space, 1), between its flat face and the head A.

0 represents a steam-chest, formed at the convex end of the case A, concentric with the axis thereof, and communicating at its inner end with the case A.

0 represents the steam sup ply pipe connected with the chest 0.

D represents the engine-shaft arranged in line with the axis of the case A and supported 'in a bearing, d, formed on the outer side of the steam-chest O.

D represents a crank disk or wheel secured to the shaft D, within the steam-chest O, and d is the wrist-pin secured to the disk D, and connected with the piston 13 in the axial line thereof. The side of the disk D adjacent to the piston is preferably curved concentric with the case A and piston B, and arranged in the steam-chest so as not to touch the piston,leaving a narrow space between the disk D and the piston, into which the steam enters from the chest 0 around the loosely-fitting disk. The pressure exerted against the convex rear side of the piston in this manner relieves the piston from part of the pressure which is exerted against its flat face, and reduces the friction between the piston and the case correspondingly.

The wrist-pin d is provided with an axial here or passage, (2", which opens into the steam'chest C on the rear side of the disk D. The outer surface of the wrist-pin (1 may be made in the form of a spherical segment when its seat in the rear side of the piston I3 is correspondingly shaped. The wrist-pin d is arranged at an oblique angle to the shaft 1) when the pin is made cylindrical, as represented in Figs. 8 and 10. Vhen the pin is made spheri cal, as represented in Fig. 1, this is not necessary, if the piston has sufficient play on the 1 E represents the cylindrical inductiorrvalve arranged in a cylindrical seat, E, formed axially in the piston 13, and communicating at its rear end with the seat of the wrist-pin d and at its front end with a semi-spherical cavity, e, formed centrally in the face of the piston.

.into the spherical cavity 0.

99 g represent the steam-ports, formed in the piston B at equal distances apart circum-' ferentially and opening with their inner ends in the cylindrical valve-seat E, and with their outer ends in the face of the piston. Two or more steam-ports may be employed, three being shown in the drawings.

G G G represent abutments or plates which extend across the steam-space b, between the piston and the head A of the case A, one abutment being arranged between every two steam-ports in the piston, so that the steamspace I) is divided by these abutments into as many compartments as there are steam-ports in the piston. As shown in Fig. 2, the abutments G are connected with the head A of the case by rounded ribs 9, formed on the abutments and seated in similarly-shaped radial grooves, 9 formed in the head A, forming knucklejoints, on which the abutments can rock or oscillate. The abutments extend into radial chambers or slots h, formed in the piston B, and made of sufficient depth to permit of the requisite play of the piston on the abutments and to enable the latter to maintain a tightjoint in the piston.

h h represent packing-ribs bearing against opposite sides of each abutment, near the outer end of its chamber h in the piston. Each pair of ribs h is composed of two segments of the same cylinder and seated in two correspond ing grooves, h h", on opposite sides ofthe chamber h, so that the ribs 71/ can turn in their seats as the abutment changes its angle with reference to the face of the piston. The slots or chambers h are enlarged from the face of the piston inwardly, to permit of the free move ment of the abutments. I

I represents a'knuckle secured centrally in the head A of the case and provided with an inner semi-spherical end, i, which enters the semi-spherical cavity a of the piston and centers the latter. The piston is in this manner j ournaled on its face side on the knuckleI and on its rear side on the wrist-pin d. The outer portion of the knuckle I is provided with an external screw thread, 13, which works in a threaded neck, 2' formed centrally on the head A, so that the knuckle I can be adjusted toward and from the face of the piston, thereby enabling the piston to be adjusted in the case A for wear. The inner ends of the abutments G are made concave and rest snugly against the spherical knuckle I, and the outer ends of an exhaust-chamber, J, formed in the neck 7?.

of the head A around the knuckle.

J represents the exhaustpipe leading from the chamber J to aconvenient point.

The steam passes from the chest 0 through the wrist-pin d into the valve E, and thence through the induction-port f into the steamport 9, communicating therewith at the time. This steam-port opens into that compartment of the steam-space b which is most nearly closed or contracted by the oblique position of the piston in the case, while the compartment which is fully opened communicates through its steamportg withtheexhaust-port f of the valve. The steam entering the contracted compartment presses against the projecting portion of the face of the piston and forces said portion backward. The point at which the backward pressure is exerted upon the oblique face of the pistontravels around the piston circumferentially and causes the piston to assume a rocking or wabbling motion, during which the point of greatest approach of the piston to the head A describes a circular path concentric with the case A. This motion of the piston produces a rotary motion of the wrist-pin d and shaft D. V The exhaust of the spent steam is effected successively from each compartment of the steam-space through its steam-port g, the exhaust-portf of the valve, the passagej of the knuckle I, and the exhaust chamber and pipe J J. The wabbling motion of the piston causes the abutments G to rock in their seats in the head A.

If desired, the abutments may be journaled in grooves 7:, formed in the piston, and the chambers into which the abutments project may be formed in the headA of the case, as represented in Fig. 7.

If it is desired to make the engine reversible, this may be accomplished by the valve mechanism represented in Figs. 8 and 9. In this case the induction-valve E is connected with a cylindrical wrist-pin, d, by a cylindrical neck, Z, which surrounds the end of the wrist-pin and allows 'the valve to be turned on the same.

Z is a pin or projection secured to the wristpin and entering a spiral or inclined groove, Z, formed in the valve and made of such pitch and length that by moving the valve lengthwise the pin or groove causes the valve to be turned on the wrist-pin to the extent neces sary to reverse the relative positions of the steam and exhaust ports of the valve in the piston. The valve E is moved lengthwise by an adjustingscrew, M, working in the knuckle I, and connected with the valve stem at by a swiveled link, m, or byany other suit able mechanism.

The steam may be admitted to the Valve by passages m outside of the wrist-pin, as represented in Fig. 13.

If desired, an automatic cut-off mechanism may be combined with the inductionvalve.

In Figs. 10, 11, and 12, N represents a cut off valve arranged within the valve N, the latter being seated in the piston The outer valve, N, is provided with an induction-port, a, an and exhaustport, a. The inner cut-off valve, N, is divided lengthwise by a diaphragm, 0, into an inductioncompartment, which is closed at the rear end of the valve, and an exhanst-compartment, which is closed at the front end of the valve. The inductioneompartment is provided with an inductionport, 1), having a lip, p, which projects into the inductiolrport a of the outer valve, N, along the trailing or rear edge of said port. The exhaust-compartment of the cnt-ott'valve N is provided with an exhaust-port, g, which is made somewhat longer than the exhaustport a of the outer valve, N, so as not to obstruct the exhaust in the various positions of the cut-off valve.

It represents a centrifugal governor secured at one end to the stem 7' of the cut-off valve N, and connected at its opposite end with the crank-diskDbyaspring,r. Theoutervalve, N, is connected with the wristpin so as to turn therewith. XVhen the speed of the shaft exceeds the normal,the governor causes the cut-off valve N to turn in the valve N in such manner that the lip p of the cutoff valve obstrncts the indnction-porta ofthe outer valve, N, thereby reducing the steam-supply to the piston. This movement of the cutoff valve does not affect the leading edge of the steamport a of the outer valve,.N, nor the exhaustports of the valves.

It is obvious that my improved engine may be operated by admitting the steam through the exhaustpipe J and exhausting through the supply-pipe 0.

My improved engine is very simple and compact. It is easily balanced, and can be operated at high speed with great advantage, thereby making it desirable for all uses in which high speed is required. It is composed of few parts and constructed at comparat-ively small expense, while it is easily kept in working order.

I claim as my invention- 1. In an engine, the combination, with a case having the form of a spherical segment, of a similarly-shaped piston filling said case partially and leaving a space for the actuatingiluid between-the face of the piston and the head of the case, a shaft arranged in line with the axis of the case, and a crank-pin connecting said shaft with the piston in the axis of the latter, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the case having the form of aspherical segment, of asimilarly shaped piston filling the case partially and provided with ports for the actuating fluid, abutments arranged in the space between the piston and the case, and supply and 'exhaust passages for the actuating-fluid, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the case having the form ofa spherical segment, ofasimilarlyshaped piston filling said case partially and provided with ports for the actuating-fluid and rocking abutments extending across the space between the piston and case, seated in one of said parts and entering recesses in the opposite part, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the case having the form of a spherical segment, ofa similarly shaped piston filling said case partially and provided with ports for the actuating-fluid, abutments extending across the space between the piston and the case, and an ind notion-valve seated in the piston, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the case having the form of a spherical segment, of a similarlyshaped piston filling said case and provided with ports for the actuating-fluid, abutments extending across the space between the piston and the case, a shaft arranged in line with the axis of the case, a crank-pin connecting said shaft with the piston in the axis of the piston, and an induction valve seated in the piston and connected with said crank-pin, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with the case having the form of aspherical segment, of asimilarlyshaped piston filling said case partially and provided with ports for the actuating-fluid, abutments extending across the space between the piston and the case, a supply-chamber arranged at one end of the case, and a shaft and hollow crank arranged in said chamber, sub stantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with the case having the form of a spherical segment, of asimilarlyshaped piston arranged obliquely in said case, a shaft and crank connected with the convex back of the piston, and a pivot secured to the flat head of the case and supporting the piston centrally, substantially as set forth.

S. The combination, with the case having the form ofa spherical segment, of asimilarlyshaped piston arranged obliquelyin said case and provided with ports for the actuatingfluid, and a reversible valve seated in said {is ton, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, with the case having the form of a spherical segment, of a similarlyshaped piston arranged obliquely in said ease and provided with ports for the actuatingfiuid, a su1')ply-valve, and an automatic cutoff valve, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination, with the case A, having the form of a spherical segment, of a similarly-shaped piston, B, arranged obliquely in said case, a chest, 0, arranged at the convex end ofthe case A, a shaft, D, disk D, and hollow wrist pin (1, arranged in said chest, a val ve, E, arranged in said piston and connecting with the hollow wrist pin, and a hollow knuckle, I, secured to the case and communicating with said valve, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination, with the case A, having the form of a spherical segment, of a simi larly-shaped p ston, B, arranged obliquely in said case and provided in its face with a spherical cavity, 6, and asplierical knuckle, I, entering the cavity eand madcadjustablein the case toward and from the piston, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination, with the spherical case A and similarly-shaped piston B, arranged obliquely in said case, and provided with a spherical cavity, a, and a valve communicat in g there\vith,.of the knuckle I, provided with a bore, j, and passages j, a chamber, J, formed on the case around said knuckle, and a passage, J, connecting with said chamber, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination, with the spherical case A and the similarly-shaped piston B, of I movable abutments G,'and cylindrical packing-strips h, bearing against opposite sides of the abutment, substantially as set forth.

WVitncss my hand this 3d day of January,

ELMER S. SMITH. \Vituesses:

EDWARD WILHELM,

CARL F. GEYER, 

